Science.K.8.A

The following is an example of how to assess proficiency of this student expectation (SE) or a portion of the SE. 

Provide students with access to various light sources, such as the classroom lights, sunlight, lamps, or flashlights. Ask students to investigate the effects of light on various objects and ask them how the absence, presence, or intensity of light changes the way they see the objects. For example, the teacher might turn the lights off and ask students, 'What can you see?' If the classroom has a dimmer switch or different lights that are less intense, the teacher might use that light and ask students, 'How do objects look different now than they do under the classroom lights?' Students should be able to explain that light allows them see objects, but they are not expected to explain that it is caused by the reflection of light rays. 

When comparing the effects of different amounts of light, student explanations should show an understanding that they can see more details when the object has more light cast on it. Students should also be able to describe how their perception of the color of an object might change if they are looking at an object in sunlight versus looking at the object under classroom lights.
 

The appearance of objects changes not only with the amount of light, but also with the color of light that shines on the objects. For example, as the light dims, it becomes more difficult to distinguish the color of objects. When different colors of light or color paddles are used to look at objects, the color and sharpness may change. For example, a red object may look black when viewed through a green color paddle. 

One way to change the amount of light in a classroom with windows is to turn off the lights and use blinds or curtains to dim the amount of light that comes in through the windows. If the classroom does not have windows, students can go outside and look at objects under different amounts of light from full sun to complete shade.